Students can easily do follow-up research on their own. A student spoke about the efficiency of research using the iPad, how much more quickly and easily difficult topics could be studied. Also, iPad apps can be downloaded to the student’s iPhone.
“It allows us to teach a great deal without using class time,” said Feist.
Board chair Rick Schultz expressed concern about too much emphasis on new media and not enough traditional book learning, and Feist reassured the board that material was being covered and that the advantage of the iPads was to provide another, parallel avenue for learning while not consuming class time needed for regular instruction.
Parents interested in investigating the iPad themselves may stop by Feist’s classroom during parent teacher conferences November 10 and 11.
After the demonstration, Supt. Kevin Wellen told the board, “Just so you know, I am currently working on a budget plan that I’ll be bringing to you in December or January, which would make it possible for us to have 600 of these (iPads). That would be to cover the grade school, and have one for each student grades 7-12.”
But at the same time, there has been disappointment in existing hopes for technology funding. Wellen reported that NRHEG did not win the $10,000 grant money they’d hoped to get from Monsanto to help support their iPad/SmartBoard purchases.
Monsanto did come through with $500 in Technology Grant money.
“We were one of three finalists,” Wellen said. He also reported that the district will “work harder next year,” and will be considered again then.
Move to local banking
The NRHEG school district has been keeping the bulk of its fund balance (currently around $1.3 million) with the Minnesota School Districts Liquid Asset Fund and MAX class fund, plus about $450,000 in accounts at State Bank of New Richland.
Findings from the board Finance Committee recommended that the district move the bulk of their funds from the MSDLAF and MSDMAX to the State Bank of New Richland.
The district is currently receiving in the area of 0.02 percent on its investment, Wellen reported, while State Bank of New Richland is paying 0.5 percent on its portion.
The decision was to keep the MSD accounts open (leaving between $100,000 and $200,000) and transferring the balance to State Bank of New Richland to receive the higher interest rate.
Moving between $1 and $1.4 million can’t be done without some investigation and work, because amounts over $250,000 need to be collateralized.
The decision has already been approved by the auditors, and was reinforced by a good recommendation from Bernie Gaytko of First National Bank, a local competitor, who spoke well of State Bank of New Richland and their dedication to keeping money working in the community.
“We may still have to do short term borrowing,” Wellen reminded the board, referring to the State’s recent increase in levy deferral to 40 percent, “but we will be maximizing our assets.”
Other business
A $653.55 donation from the NRHEG PTO, for teacher requests, was also approved.
Regarding the disputed Curriculum Report, Wellen said, “We didn’t get on the (AYP) list for any of our math scores. Those are new tests.”
“We don’t believe those tests represent the performance of our students,” Wellen said of the reading test results in question. “Both buildings passed in reading, but because of the way things are calculated, the district as a whole came fractionally under.”
Discussion with officials is continuing over the results.
